What is the News ?

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)is advocating for the adoption of surety bond insurance products for highway projects

Facts About:

These bonds can be defined in their simplest form as a written agreement to guarantee compliance, payment, or performance of an act.

These are instruments where insurance companies act as ‘Surety’ and provide the financial guarantee that the contractor will fulfil its obligation as per the agreed terms.

Surety is a unique type of insurance because it involves a three-party agreement.

The three parties in a surety agreement are:

• Principal: The party that purchases the bond and undertakes an obligation to perform an act as promised.
• Surety: The insurance company or surety company that guarantees the obligation will be performed. If the principal fails to perform the act as promised, the surety is contractually liable for losses sustained.
• Obligee: The party who requires and often receives the benefit of the surety bond. For most surety bonds, the obligee is a local, state or federal government organisation.

What are the advantages?

• It will act as a security arrangement for infrastructure projects and will insulate the contractor as well as the principal.
• The product will cater to the requirements of a diversified group of contractors, many of whom are operating in today’s increasingly volatile environment.
• The product gives the principal a contract of guarantee that contractual terms and other business deals will be concluded in accordance with the mutually agreed terms.
• In case the contractor doesn’t fulfil the contractual terms, the Principal can raise a claim on the surety bond and recover the losses they have incurred.
• Unlike a bank guarantee, the Surety Bond Insurance does not require large collateral from the contractor, thus freeing up significant funds for the contractor, which they can utilise for the growth of the business.
• The product will also help in reducing the contractors’ debts to a large extent, thus addressing their financial worries.

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1951715